The statue of Christ the Redeemer (Brazil) is a cultural symbol of the country. Statue of christ the redeemer in rio de janeiro, brazil

The Christ the Redeemer statue is the second largest art deco structure in the world. This monumental symbol of Christianity, the statue, spreading its arms over the city, is the main decoration of the city. So, which city was honored to have a unique monument? What country? The statue of Christ the Savior is installed in Rio de Janeiro. Tourists tend to visit Brazil to see it with their own eyes.

Seven Wonders of the World

Everyone knows the stunning monuments of art of the Ancient World: the Egyptian pyramids, the Sphinx, Babylon, in Olympia, the mausoleum in Halicarnassus, the Colossus of Rhodes and

The statue of Christ the Savior is a unique, but not the only building on our planet that deserves attention. In 2007, it was decided to create a list of notable contemporary architectural structures to select the New Seven Wonders of the World. Among them were the pyramids of Giza, Chichen Itza, Taj Mahal, Petra, Machu Picchu, the Colosseum and the statue of Christ the Savior. It is the latter that will be discussed today, so let's move to Brazil and see what is interesting here.

Rio de Janeiro - the pearl of Brazil

Every tourist dreams of visiting this fantastic city. European architecture, a sea of lights, luxury jewelry stores and even a Jewel Museum. Local beaches are even more famous: soft white sand and gentle ocean give real pleasure. The botanical garden with fountains and magnificent alleys is perfect for leisurely walks.

There are many architectural monuments in Rio that you can visit, and the most famous among them is the statue of Christ the Savior on Mount Corcovado. You can see it hundreds of times on TV or on the Internet, but you will never experience the awe that covers everyone who finds himself at the foot of a giant at an altitude of 704 meters above sea level.

A bit of history

Every year, thousands of tourists come to the city where the statue of Christ the Savior is located. This amazing statue does not leave indifferent even atheists who are far from the Christian faith.

The peak, on which the statue was later erected, was called the "Mountain of Temptation" back in the 14th century. Its unusual shape later led to a name change, and it became known as Corcovado, which means "hunchback" in Russian.

In 1859, before a series of research expeditions, the clergyman of the Catholic Church, Pedro Maria Boss, visited here. Captivated by the picturesque beauty of these places, he decided to erect a statue of Christ on the mountain, which would serve as a symbol of protection and protect the city. Not without reason, the city of Rio de Janeiro was chosen as the place where the statue of Christ the Savior is located. The stunning panorama of the city, the bay with the picturesque Sugar Loaf Mountain and the openwork coastline is associated with nothing more than a picture of a modern paradise.

Project competition

The church was not ready to implement such a large-scale project at its own expense, so the project was postponed and the construction of the railway began, which was supposed to help in the delivery of building materials.

In 1921 a festival called "Monument Week" was organized. During the event, donations were collected for the construction.

Since the city, where the statue of Christ the Savior found its permanent place, was so actively involved in the implementation of this plan, it was decided to announce a competition for the best project. Architects and engineers immediately responded, offering dozens of different options for consideration. The city administration chose the project of Heitor da Silva Costa: his statue expressed the idea of Christianity as much as possible, since the figure with outstretched arms resembled a cross.

I must say that the project has undergone some changes. After much debate, the engineers replaced the ball-shaped pedestal, symbolizing the earth, with a rectangular one. A small chapel was laid in it, which operates to this day. The pedestal was made of marble.

Location

Construction lasted about 9 years, from 1922 to 1931. It was truly a grandiose project. To create such a miracle as the statue of Christ the Savior, the country at that time was not technically ready, so it was decided to produce all the details in France, and then deliver them by rail to the top of Mount Corcovado. Here they were met by local craftsmen and sculptors who performed the assembly. The figure is made of reinforced concrete and soapstone.

On October 12, 1931, the grand opening and consecration of the statue took place. From the final path of the railway to the top of the mountain, a winding staircase was made, consisting of 220 steps, along which numerous pilgrims, tourists and townspeople climbed. Since then, on the majestic mountain of Corcovado, rising 704 meters above sea level, in a mysterious haze of clouds and fog, there has been a beautiful statue of Christ the Savior. The city, under the mighty protection of Jesus, spread out with a fantastic vision, from which the heart stops... The statue has become a symbol of Rio de Janeiro and Brazil.

Description

The idea of the figure of Christ standing with outstretched arms suggests that everything in existence is in the hands of the Lord. The statue can be seen from anywhere in the city, at any time of the day. It looks especially charming in the rays of the setting sun from the helicopter window. Private companies provide such a service: a slow flight of the monumental figure of Christ in a circle. Its height together with the pedestal is impressive - 39.6 meters, and the arm span is 30 meters. The weight of the giant is over 1100 tons!

Time travel

To plunge into the era of the creation of the monument, you should use the old transport, preserved since 1896. The antique-looking tram still runs today, connecting the upper and lower levels of the city. Just imagine that it is over 100 years old, when the past decades appear before your eyes...

The journey will be slow and will give you the opportunity to enjoy the magnificent views to your heart's content. Squeaky on turns and with difficulty overcoming a steep climb, the tram brings you to the foot of the stairs leading to the observation deck. Only 220 steps - and you are at the statue. From this angle, the pedestal looks much more imposing, in part because the natural pedestal is the mountain itself. Many talk about a special, mysterious aura that envelops the figure. It is difficult to disagree with this, because next to such a work of art you experience a mystical awe.

You should not luxuriate in bed for a long time if you decide to make a trip to the beautiful. The statue of Christ the Savior is located in one of the most visited cities, so the influx of tourists here is very large. Closer to noon, you run the risk of getting stuck in line for a long time. Both the lift, the tram, and the stairs themselves have limited capacity, so early morning is the best time for a tour.

There are no problems with transport here: every 30 minutes a train leaves the city, which delivers those who wish to the monument. The road will take quite a bit of time, about 20 minutes. If you do not want to part with your personal transport, then there is a good parking lot at the foot of the statue. From here you can go up on foot or use the modern elevator. Today it is possible to climb the escalator or funicular, so if you have small children or elderly people with you, do not worry that the loads will be beyond their strength.

Do not rush to leave the site after viewing the statue: go on an excursion to the Museum of Naive Art, walk through the magnificent forest on your own or in the company of a guide. Clean air, clear rivers and lakes, exotic wildlife - all this will give you a lot of vivid impressions.

Statue doubles

The popularity of the monument led to the erection of a number of later analogues. In Lisbon, in the mid-90s of the twentieth century, a 28-meter statue was erected. Instead of a 700-meter mountain, a pedestal 80 meters high was used.

In Vietnam, a similar statue was erected with outstretched arms, 32 meters high.

In Indonesia, just a few years ago, the construction of a 30-meter monument of Christ was completed, and this despite the fact that the country is Muslim.

Time, nature, element

For less than 100 years, the statue has not experienced serious upheavals. Storms and hurricanes, destroying everything in their path, did not harm her, as did the lightning that often struck her. Someone attributes it to properties, others see it as a sacred meaning. In one of the strong thunderstorms, lightning broke off two fingers from the hand of Christ. The church keeps a stock of stone from which the monument is made, and reconstruction of this most valuable historical object is expected in the near future.

Cultural heritage is a reflection of the people who created it. The Statue of Christ the Redeemer is eloquent proof of the greatness of Brazil: a magnificent work of art located in the most beautiful city in the world.

The most famous and majestic statue in Rio de Janeiro - the figure of Christ the Redeemer, which adorns the top of the South American mountain Corcovado.

This is the largest statue of Christ in Brazil: he spread his arms over the bustling metropolis in a blessing gesture. The construction has long attracted tourists from all over the world - tours to Corcovado are popular due to visiting observation decks, as well as beautiful views of the city of ten million people, cozy bays and coves, clubs and Ipanema beach, and the grandiose famous Maracanã Stadium. The monument was erected in the center of the Tijuca National Park.

Statue of Christ in Rio: history

In 1921, the country was preparing to celebrate the approaching centenary of Brazil's independence. By this date, it was decided to build a monument to Christ the Redeemer on Corcovado. The city authorities announced a competition for the best design of the monument, fundraising immediately began.

More than 2.2 million reais were collected for the construction of Christ statues in Brazil. The Catholic Church was active in financing the project. The archbishop of the city, Sebastian Leme, supervised the construction of an architectural masterpiece.

The original version of the monument was a sketch by the talented artist Carlos Oswald, who proposed depicting the Savior with his hands open in a gesture of blessing. A statue in Brazil would become a unique symbol of the Christian faith and would look like a huge cross. They planned to install the reinforced concrete Jesus on a pedestal made in the shape of a globe. The Brazilian engineer da Silva Costa developed the final design for the national monument.

During construction, soapstone was used, thanks to which the statue was well strengthened, giving its surface a special aesthetic.

The country's technologies did not provide for the presence of workshops of this magnitude, therefore, in order to implement the project, it was decided to create a masterpiece in parts in France. In the mid-20s, the French sculptor Landowski modeled the head of the future statue, which was about 4 meters high. Next, we started making hands. Gradually, all the details were made of hard and pliable stone, but they needed to be carefully transported up the mountain.

The statue in Rio de Janeiro was taken to Brazil disassembled and lifted up a small railway built specifically for this purpose. From the tracks they laid the path of Caracol - the workers lifted the details of the monument along 220 steps.

It took nine years to build this grandiose statue in Rio de Janeiro. The height of the finished structure was 38 meters, of which more than 30 meters were allocated directly to the figure of Christ. The statue weighs 635 tons, while the span of its arms reached 28 meters. It was decided to install Jesus on a picturesque natural hill 700 meters high.

On a solemn date in October 1931, the authorities and citizens opened and consecrated this new symbol of Rio.

Design features

The most beautiful statue in Brazil, due to its majestic size and successful landscape, is perfectly visible even at a great distance. You can admire the real magnificence in the evening - the statue is lit by a whole system of huge spotlights.

Inside this statue of Christ, famous outside of Brazil, a chapel was opened, located in the basement. Now the chapel has become a place of pilgrimage for wedding corteges. Tourists willingly come here, who, in addition to impressions, try to take with them miniature stone models of the statue from the local souvenir shop.

The hands of Christ are wide open in the arms of Christ: the gesture symbolizes sincere and all-forgiving love for people. Locals believe that Jesus hugs everyone who comes to him. In 2007, the statue was chosen as one of the new wonders of the world.

The observation deck is located at the feet of the statue: you can go up there by escalator, road or steps. From the site, magical panoramas of Rio and the surrounding area open up.

For several times the monument has undergone preventive and major repairs. In 2008, the statue was hit by lightning and was slightly damaged: restoration work lasted two years. The craftsmen managed to renew the outer layer of the stone, repair the statue's fingers and head, and install new lightning rods. In the same year, the monument was subjected to an unexpected act of vandalism - climbing on the scaffolding left by the workers, the attackers left inscriptions and drawings on the face of Christ.

Every year, the statue undergoes mandatory state control and inspection, work is underway to prevent corrosion and improve the protection of the monument.

To see this grandiose statue in Brazil with your own eyes, you should go on a trip to the South American continent. Specialists will be able to offer many options for visiting this country on the most acceptable terms and at reasonable prices!

The most famous statue of Jesus on the planet is the statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. But the one who thinks that she is the largest in the world is deeply mistaken. The statue on Mount Corcovado, overlooking Rio, is only the fourth largest statue of Christ on Earth. In our review, the tallest statues erected in honor of Jesus in different parts of the world.

1. Cristo Rey - Mexico, 20.5 meters

This statue of Christ is located in the geographical center of Mexico - on the 2700-meter mountain Cerro del Cubilete.

The statue was completed in 1944 and its style is attributed to the Art Deco movement. Now Cristo Rei is considered one of the most significant religious monuments in the country.

2. Statue of Christ the Savior - Maratea (Italy), 21.23 meters

The statue, also known as the Cristo Redentore di Maratea, was made from white and blue-gray marble quarried near the city of Carrara.

Unlike some of the other statues built with donations from the public, the Cristo Redentore was erected at the expense of one person - Stefano Rivetti, an entrepreneur from Piedmont.

3. Cristo de las Noas (Mexico), 21.8 meters

The statue was named after the hill on which it was erected - Cerro de las Noas. The construction of the 580-ton statue began in 1973 and was completed only seventeen years later.

At its foot is a restaurant, which is considered one of the most popular among the residents of the city of Torreon.

4. Christ of the Pacific (Peru), 22 meters

The Cristo del Pacifico was President Alberto Fujimori's farewell gift to the people of Peru. When he lost the 2011 presidential election, he decided to give the Peruvians one last gift by building a replica of the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio in Lima.

However, he was criticized because the Peruvians felt that the people should have their own unique statue, and not a copy of someone else's.

5. Christ of the Sacred Heart (Mexico), 23 meters

10 kilometers from the Mexican city of Rosarito is a giant statue of Cristo del Sagrado Corazon, made of steel and fiberglass.

Sculptor Gregorio Tijuana, claims to be the creator of the most unique statue of Christ, not because of its height, but because it is made in color (usually all other statues are white or gray).

The statue of Christ of the Sacred Heart is the pride of the Mexicans.

6. Cristo Rey de Los Alamos (Mexico), 23 meters

The resin and fiberglass statue is located in the border town of Tijuana.

Moreover, they built an almost 24-meter statue on the dome of the church of San Martin de Porres Tijuana.

7. El Cristo Roto (Mexico), 25 meters

An unusual one-legged and one-armed giant statue of Christ was built in the Mexican town of San José de Gracia.

El Cristo Roto (The Broken Christ) attracts thousands of pilgrims every year.

8. Christ Rua de Houches (France), 25 meters

The monumental statue of Christ the King is located in Les Houches, Haute-Savoie in France.

Abbé Claude Delassie, pastor of Les Houches, who initiated the construction of this monument, wanted to erect a statue that would embody the idea of the universal kingdom of Christ on Earth. The first stone was laid in August 1933, and the statue was unveiled just a year later.

9. Christ of Mercy (Nicaragua), 26 meters

El Cristo de la Misericordia is a huge statue in the city of San Juan del Sur which is the largest statue of Christ in Central America.

This statue was the dream of a local businessman, Ervin Gonzalez, who made his fortune in tourism. As a result, he built it on his personal plot of land.

10. Christ the King (Colombia), 26 meters

On top of Los Cristales - one of the two mountains that tower over the Colombian city of Cali - in 1953, a 464-ton statue of Cristo Rey was erected. It was supposed to symbolize respect for peace and the safety of local residents.

Only the most energetic tourists get to the statue, because it is located at an altitude of 1440 m above sea level.

11. Cristo Rei Dili (East Timor), 27m

The statue of Christ the King was a gift from the Government of Indonesia to the people of East Timor. At the time of construction (1996), East Timor was a province of Indonesia before gaining independence in 2002. Since then, the statue of Cristo Rei has become one of the main tourist attractions of the new independent state.

Unlike most of the statues on this list, the Cristo Rei is made of copper, not stone.

12. Christ the King (Portugal), 28 meters

Plans for the construction of a Portuguese statue of Christ first appeared in 1940, but the statue was not finished until 1959.

The figure of Christ stands on the top of the rock near the city, arms outstretched towards the city, as if embracing it.

13. Cristo Recucitado (Mexico), 30 meters

This statue is the only one on the list that was installed in a cemetery (in the city of San Rafael). Sculptor David Gutiérrez Becerril made the Cristo Recucitado (Christ Resurrected) from pink stone in the early 1970s.

14. Christ blessing (Indonesia), 30 meters

In Manado Indonesian, this statue is called Christus Kase Berkat. It was built in 2010 from 25 tons of metal fiber and 35 tons of steel.

The statue is unusual in its location - Christ, as it were, leans forward to bless his flock.

15. Christos Otero (Spain), 30 meters

You can find Cristo del Otero on the outskirts of the Spanish city of Palencia.

The statue was built in 1931 in a style reminiscent of the Art Deco movement.

Cristo del Otero is one of the most visited holy places by pilgrims.

16. Christ the Redeemer (Brazil), 30.1 meters

Arguably the most famous Jesus statue in the world, Cristo Redentor is the fourth tallest Jesus statue in the world.

It is also the oldest of the statues on this list - it was built between 1926 and 1931.

It is a matter of honor for every traveler, having been in Brazil, to come to Rio de Janeiro and visit the foot of the majestic statues of Christ the Savior. The magnificent landscape that opens at the foot of the statue, the feeling of some kind of inner power and delight will not leave anyone indifferent. It is best to leave a visit to the statue "for a snack". Thus, you will be able to see the familiar landscape and guess the Formula 1 tracks, the Maracana Stadium, the Sugarloaf and other sights that only the lazy do not talk about and write about. Almost forty-meter hulk (to be precise, thirty-eight) is visible from almost any corner of Rio, just like the whole city is visible from the statue. But do not even dream of taking a picture of everything together - the location of the statue does not make it possible to do this. An option is to fly by plane, but more on that later.

History of Jesus statue in Brazil

Jesus in Rio de Janeiro rises since 1931. But his story begins much earlier. The pedestal of the future statue was the so-called "mountain of temptation", which is mentioned in the Bible. But folk associative chains led to the renaming of the mountain in Corcovado, which in Spanish means "hunchback". The fact is that the mountain really resembles a hump. The mystery and beauty of Mount Corcovado is striking and mesmerizing. She did not leave indifferent the Catholic priest Pedro Maria Bossa. He could not resist the temptation to erect a statue of Jesus on the mountain. But for a large statue - big expenses, which the clergyman did not have. He offered to sponsor the action to the then Princess Isabella. And so that she would certainly agree, he promised to dedicate a statue to her and immortalize the virtuous lady. But the question of eternity turned out to be less attractive for the princess than the question of spending money, and she wished to postpone this matter until better times. But the plans were not destined to come true. Since the monarchy fell, and the church was separated from the state by law.

While the statue began to be forgotten, the construction of the railway from Rio to the top of the Hunchback began in full swing. Thus, when the idea of creating a statue was returned to the anniversary of the independence of Brazil in 1922, it was already possible to supply materials for construction without any special difficulties. Interesting is the fact that the statue was built with the money of the townspeople. Fundraising was taking place in churches when "monument week" was announced. Part of the money was donated by the church itself.

Construction began in April 1922, when the foundation stone of the pedestal was laid.

But before that, it was necessary to decide what it would look like monument in Rio de Janeiro. The city administration immediately announced a competition for the best project, but, amid fierce competition, Heitor de Silva Costa became the winner. In the project, he embodied the idea that everything in existence is in the hands of the Lord. The outstretched arms of the statue schematically depict a cross, and it was originally supposed to stand on a ball that would symbolize our planet.

The final layout was completed in 1927 - and finally the construction of the statue began. The artists, architects and engineers who designed the models lived near the statue throughout the construction and spent the night in a built tent nearby.

The statue was collected by the whole world. Well, almost everyone. The head and arms were assembled in France for technical reasons, and the French sculptor Paul Landowsky took part in modeling these parts of the statue. The material for making the sculpture was brought from Sweden.

The construction of the statue cost by today's standards quite cheap - a quarter of a million dollars. But at the time it was a huge amount.

How to get to the Monument of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro?

You can get to the city in any way: from the plane to the ship through the train and car. In the city itself, catch a taxi (by the way, taxi services are not cheap in Rio), wait for the bus. There are two trains running from the city center to Corcovado Mountain. The ride is short, only twenty or twenty five minutes.

The narrow railroad, which originally delivered the building materials for the statue, now carries a crazy flow of tourists. Every hour, an average of three and a half hundred tourists are delivered to the statue in Rio de Janeiro.

If public transport is not the type you are used to, you can take a taxi or rent a car to the statue of Jesus Christ in Rio de Janeiro. Such pleasure will cost more, but it also has its advantages. In addition to increased comfort, you get a tour of the national reserve and the largest forest area in the world, which is located in the halls of the city. You still have to get to the top without a car - on an escalator, which was installed here only in 2003. You can look at the statue from a bird's eye view by renting a private jet or helicopter, but the rent is simply fabulous. Although there is nothing to argue about the ratio of price and saturation of impressions - the view pays for the costs.

Statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro today

The statue was consecrated twice by Pope John Paul II. The Brazilians themselves believe in the miraculous power of the statue and that it protects the city from troubles and adversities. Moreover, severe thunderstorms do not affect the statue, while the area around it can be severely damaged and more than one tree stands cut by lightning. Scientists are not inclined to believe in a miracle, and explain this phenomenon by the fact that the soapstone from which the statue was erected turned out to be a powerful dielectric.

However, time is taking its toll and Christ statue in Rio de Janeiro needs repair again, note the third time in more than 75 years.

Statue in Rio de Janeiro, photo which is decorated with all sorts of guidebooks, and any thing that is more or less connected with Brazil has twins all over the world. They are naturally smaller, but some of them are striking. So, for example, the monument to Jesus, which stands in Indonesia (the Muslim faith prevails), surprises with impudence.

Brazil Construction of the statue of Jesus Christ, video:

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Statue of Christ the Redeemer. The famous statue placed on the Corcovado in the city of Rio de Janeiro. It is considered a symbol of the city and the whole country. The monument was built from reinforced concrete material and soapstone. The height of the statue is 38 meters, the weight is 1145 tons, and the arm span is thirty meters.

Every year, more than one and a half million visiting tourists come to the foot of this masterpiece. A railroad was drawn to the top of the pedestal. It is considered the very first in Brazil and was erected long before the statue. Her role was very big. Materials for the construction of the top of the monument were transported along it. Tourists get to the statue along the highway that passes through the reserve.

To build Christ the Redeemer, architects and sculptors spent almost nine years (1922-1931). The sketch of the monument was designed by the artist Carlos Oswald. His proposal to make Christ with outstretched arms led to the fact that from a distance the figure looks like an incredibly large cross. All details of the sculpture were made in France and transported to Brazil. A staircase leads to the foot of the statue, which has 220 steps. The small chapel was placed in the thickness of the marble plinth.

The monument was solemnly opened and consecrated on October 12, 1931. The statue was re-sanctified in 1965. For 75 years, the statue was repaired twice. In 2000, the night lighting system was upgraded. You can go up to the observation deck with the help of escalators, which were delivered in 2003. Since 2007, Christ the Redeemer has had the status of a wonder of the world.

Unfortunately, the statue in 2010 was the victim of vandalism in history. It had inscriptions in black, which were promptly erased.

Being in Rio de Janeiro, you should also definitely visit one of the most famous areas of the city - Copacabana. There are a huge number of attractions here, festivals and concerts are held almost all year round.